Beauty Review || Renewed Hope In A Jar. Dry...

Ever since I was a teenager, looking after my skin had never really been a thought of mine, until I finally started to realise I am now closer to 30 than I am the side of forever youthful skin! So insert the hunt for some skincare that no longer consists of the oil free, acne fighting, skin stripping ingredients I thought I needed back in the day.

Fast forward to now, I would say my skin is more on the drier side. I still get the odd blackhead or pimple in that crease below your bottom lip, but apart from that I now need the kind of skincare that is going to brighten, nourish and HYDRATE!

That's where this little gem comes in.

The Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Dry found itself in my life to test out and try and I must say I was very much a fan from the moment I tried it on the back of my hand.

This is a super nourishing, lightweight, yet very hydrating creamy moisturiser with a really lovely scent. It sinks into the skin making it feel so plump and supple after you've used it. I think it definitely leaves you with glowing skin. It became a firm favourite in my nightly skincare routine.
It could definitely be used day and night but I prefer my SPF daily moisturiser for the daytime.

I think they have described it down to a tee on the packaging. Refreshing and refining. This cream contains a triple blend of AHA's which help to exfoliate and renew the skin cells. Don't be scared off by this! This is what gives you that beautiful glow!
I sometimes have a little skin sensitivity, when it comes to harsh exfoliators (even some cleansing wipes can sting my skin)
This cream has caused no redness, stinging or discomfort whatsoever. Just pure, lush, soft, yummy skin.

One important thing to note when using anything with AHA's is to make sure you wear an SPF out in the day time as you may burn a little easier with the fresh new skin being uncovered.

There are literally no negatives towards this cream for me. I did a little research online and did see that a few people didn't think it was as good as the original Hope in a Jar, but I cannot make comment on that as I had never used it.

This beauty is available online at adorebeauty.com.au for $55AUD for a 60ml jar.

I am super keen now to try other Philosophy products. I think the next purchase will be the matching eye cream.

Have you used Philosophy before? What's your favourite product? Drop me a comment, I'd love to know!

Xx

My Long Haul Flight Beauty Essentials.

EEEEP! It's almost that time to start packing my stuff for my trip away!! SO excited but also a little nervy. Im not really sure why I get like I do, but I freak out that I'm going to forget to do something before I leave or leave something important at home. #neurotic

This post is all about what I plan to take in my hand luggage to keep my skin in check mid flight!

As I've spoken about in my previous post, long haul flights wreak havoc on the skin. All of that recycled air drying everything out.

The following are items I hope are going to keep my skin calm and refreshed on my long ass trip to New York City!

1. Formula 10.0.6 Clarifying Facial Wipes - $6.99AUD
Perfect for taking off any makeup or just for a nice refresh after a nap.

2. Antipodes Night Replenish Serum - $58.99AUD
A beautiful serum to put some moisture back into your skin after a cleanse.

3. Maybelline Baby Lips - $3.95AUD
There's really nothing worse than dry lips in my books. Especially when you have nothing to put on them. I once resorted to hand cream at work because I'd left my lip balm at home. (Don't recommend that by the way) These lip balms would have to be my absolute favourite. No touching the balm involved so no germ spreading. They also smell amazing! Mango Pie, Anti-Oxident Berry and Lychee Addict (pictured) are my faves!

4. Rosken Intensive Moisture Hand Cream - $3.99AUD
I got this hand cream as a freebie in a gift bag from Priceline and I really enjoy it. It doesn't soak in super quick but it is for "very dry hands" It has a lovely subtle scent and will be perfect for the plane.

5. Avene Thermal Spring Water - $9.99AUD
I love this stuff on flights or on really hot days to refresh your skin. Spritz it on over makeup or on a fresh face as a toner.

6. Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream - $52.99AUD
This is my current love and will be used on the daily over my trip. It is super nourishing and hydrating and I will be lathering this on after take off.

7. Jessica Simpson Fancy Rollerball 15ml (part of a gift pack) - $39.00AUD
This little rollerball is part of a gift pack and would have to be my favourite scent and one i wear on a daily basis. The 100ml bottle will be travelling in my main bag. No being stinky for me!

So those are my main squeezes for my carry on. Is there anything you think I might be missing?
Let me know!

Xx

Whats In My MECCA Wishlist

If you're like me and don't have unlimited funds in the bank, but you love to "window shop" online, then you will have all your favourite sites bookmarked with wish lists, hearts, save for laters all neatly filed away waiting patiently for some rainy day spare cashola to come your way.

Today I wanted to share my Mecca wishlist.
SO MANY AMAZING GOODIES!!!

1. Philosophy - Birthday Girl Vanilla Bath Gift Set.
Who says gift sets ACTUALLY have to be gifts!? Vanilla birthday cake scented shower gel AND lipgloss sound like heaven to me and I think it would go peachy with my TIGI Caramel shampoo and conditioner! (Product review on that here)

2. Soap & Glory - Orangeasm Body Wash.
For starters, I love ALL Soap & Glory packaging and this body wash sounds amazing. Scented with fresh green mandarine, lemon and orange, this wash would be a nice pick-me-up in your morning shower.

3. Bobby Brown - Hot Nudes Eye Palette.
Umm... YES PLEASE! I have a thing for nude eyeshadow palettes (or eyeshadow palettes in general) and this one is no exception! There are 8 gorgeous shades that include mattes, metallics and shimmers.

4. Diptyque - Vanille Candle.
"A blend of vanilla orchard, sandalwood, elemi and balsamy bourbon vanilla, this candle delivers a scent that is both warm and comforting"
How dreamy does that sound!?

5. Philosophy - Hope In A Jar Night.
This is an intense night time retexturizing moisturiser which claims to help noticeably smooth the skin, visibly soften lines and restore your rosy glow... Who wouldn't like the sound of that?

6. Mario Badescu - AHA Botanical Body Soap.
This one is currently living in my shower as we speak and I love it! A definite repurchase from Mecca after buying my first bottle from an American site I'm happy I can finally get it in Australia. This was featured in Women's Fitness magazine and claimed to help eliminate those pesky little bumps you get on your upper arms... Well, I can say it works!!

7. NARS - Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella.
I've seen a few bloggers rave about these lip pencils and I'd love to get my hands on this colour in particular. A beautiful rich deep red. This shade would look amazing on anybody!

8. Bumble and Bumble - Thickening Dry Spun Finish.
I will try anything that claims to give hair some volume and lift. This claims to add volume, fullness and texture to the hair... SOLD!

9. Philosophy - Coconut Frosting Shower Gel.
Another yummy sounding sweet shower gel to go with my caramel smelling hair. Bring it on!

10. Kiehl's - Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado.
I'm searching for a new eye cream and this one sounds super hydrating and perfect for putting on before bed. The avocado oil helps restore the skins natural moisture.

11. Urban Decay - Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette.
I'm pretty sure I have saved the most wanted until last. The Naked3 palette is the one I would most like in my hands! The rose gold shades look amazing and I am yet to have one of these palettes in my possession. One day soon Urban Decay. One day soon.

Has anyone tried any of the above or have any other suggestions on things I should try? Leave me a shout out below and let me stalk your wish lists!

Xx

Product Review || Iluka Nourish cream cleanser.

I'm finally starting to realise that I no longer need "blemish control/acne fighting" cleansers or "oil free" moisturisers in my life.

Having now entered the "late 20's" age bracket, my skin is a changin' and I have had to go in search of a new cleanser that didn't strip my face of all its natural oils and leave it feeling tight and dried up.

I made a v-line to my local Priceline for a wander around and stumbled across the new Iluka range by Natalie Imbruglia. It's a gorgeous, all natural skincare line that is 100% Australian made. A big plus in my book. It's also paraben/sulphate free and there is most importantly no testing on animals!

The packaging was definitely eye catching sitting on the shelf, I think it has a high end look.

I wanted to try out a cream cleanser as they are a lot more hydrating on the skin. 

This particular one is beautiful! A nice subtle smell, not at all overwhelming. It was a little different to use than a foaming cleanser. This doesn't foam but it does feel great on the skin. It doesn't sting the eyes and once washed off, it doesn't leave any oily residue and my face still has that lovely washed fresh feeling.

I am yet to use it to see if it is any good at taking off makeup (I love my Body Shop Camomile cleansing butter for makeup removal) but as my morning wake me up... It. Is. Love.

The Iluka range carries everything from day/night/eye creams, cleansers, toners, exfoliators, oils, a primer and a lip care product.

I am definitely keen to try out the day and night cream and the eye serum.

If this one cleanser is anything to go by, they will be making a regular appearance on my bathroom vanity. 

Xx

Review || Zoella Beauty Range.

Another review!

I'm sure anyone who is into the blogging and YouTube world is familiar with Zoella and her new range of products. If not, check out her blog here and her YouTube channel here.

So when they were released on feelunique.com I of course put my order in. 

There are 7 pieces in the range. 

2 makeup/pencil cases, the bath bomb, body lotion, shower/bath gel, a fragrance mist and a candle.

The candle and fragrance were what I was interested in most but they were sold out of the candles and they won't post the fragrance overseas.

The 3 pieces I did get were the Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion, the Fizz Bar and the Soak Opera Bath Soak And Shower Cream.

All 3 products have the same scent. A sweet, floral, musk smell. Not overpowering but very feminine and pretty. I love the packaging design. The bright pinks and gold with polka dots and lace is definitely something that I would gravitate towards in stores.

The body lotion is lovely, it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. The bath fizz block is something that is one of a kind in the way it is shaped. It looks like a chocolate bar with 8 squares inside that you can break up and put into your bath. It's nice to be able to get more than one use out of it rather than the regular one use round bath bombs. The shower cream/bath soak makes great bubbles in the bath and lathers up lovely in the shower and leaves you smelling of the fragrance afterwards which is nice.

Overall I think the range is really great! It caters for her younger tween audience as well as people like me in their mid to late 20's. They are super affordable too. Each item was around the $10AUD mark. 

Definitely worth a try if you're in the market for some nice bath products, or also a lovely Christmas present for any ladies in your life. I even think my Mum would enjoy these.

Xx

My Current Night Time Skincare Routine

Today I come to you with my current night time skincare routine.

I'm the kind of lazy girl who has never really had a proper routine. I liked the last minute makeup wipe before bed and stayed away from night creams as I thought my skin was oily enough, until my skin went into meltdown and broke out into a crazy array of blackheads, cystic acne and blemishes.
Turns out I just needed some good exfoliators and moisturisers!

So if I have been out with a full face of makeup, I will come home and use The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter to remove all of that, wipe it off with a muslin cloth, then rinse. If it were a makeup free day (normally my work days) I will use the St Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub. I will then follow through with the Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Refreshing Toner on a cotton round.

Around every 3 days I will use the GO-TO Exfoliating Swipeys. I am giving full credit to these new gems for helping improve my skins texture. Using a gentle Lactic acid, these little cotton rounds of goodness help clear pores, refine fine lines, remove dead skin cells and also moisturise with the added essential oils. My skin has never felt so soft and supple.

Next is the Trilogy Rosehip Oil. 3 drops onto the palm of my hand and I pat it across my face and decolletage. Following with the Trilogy Rosapene Night Cream.

I will then brush my fangs and finish with the Go-To Lips! Super Balm. Great for slapping on before bed time, the grapefruity smelling balm is super hydrating and great for keeping those kissers in good condition while you snooze.

And that folks is the way it goes down before bed!

If anyone can recommend a good eye cream, be sure to let me know in the comments. Maybe something that will try and attempt to dull the dark circles. I am struggling to find anything that ACTUALLY works.

Until next time...

Xx

Body Shop Haul and Review

The Body Shop...

A well known brand around the world and definitely a brand that is all about spreading the love.
They are against animal testing, they support community fair trade, they feel very strongly about keeping our environment clean and green and are 100% committed to speaking out for people or animals without a voice. Numerous campaigns are kicking about helping raise money and well needed awareness.

What other reasons do you need to buy from such a kickass company?

Great products for one and the Body Shop never fails to deliver.

I made an online purchase a couple weeks ago to grab a few things that are being raved about in the blogging and YouTube communities.
I have used all of the products at least once so I thought I would do a bit of a review as well as a haul.

1. Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
The first cleansing oil/butter I have used and I must say. I am converted! This stuff melts your makeup straight from your face!! I love the fact you just swipe some from the jar, rub straight onto your dry skin  and everything just comes right off. Far easier and less messy than gel/foam cleansers. (I'm one of those girls who gets water EVERYWHERE when I have to wash my face over the sink) It doesn't sting the eyes when I rubbed it in there to remove my mascara either. Also, NO OILY RESIDUE!! Perfect for combo/crazy skin like mine. Moisturises the dry patches and cleans up the oily bits. Win win!

2. Muslin Cleansing Cloth
The perfect duo. Once you have melted that butter into your face, rinse your cloth under warm water and wipe the grime away. The coarseness of the muslin gives a nice exfoliation without being too harsh.

3. All in One BB Cream (Shade 01)
I'd heard good things about this BB cream. It comes out of the tube white but once rubbed into the skin, it colour corrects to give you an all over even finish.
Having only used this once so far, I can't give too much of a comment on it. I'm not too sure whether there is enough coverage of redness for me yet, but I will have to use it a few more times to make more of a judgement. It feels great on the skin though, not oily. Sinks straight in, it didn't cause any blemishes to pop up like other BB creams have done in the past and didn't leave me looking orange.

4. Honey Bronzer (Shade 01)
A much loved bronzing powder raved about by Essie Button. I just had to give it a try. I can see the fuss. It's a really lovely bronzer that leaves behind just the right amount of colour. It's not orange, it's not too powdery and there's no crazy disco ball shimmer. Just a super easy to use everyday lovely bronzing powder.

I have to say I am super happy with everything I have purchased and now know The Body Shop have a lot more to offer than just moisturisers, shower goodies and lip balms.
Definitely have yourselves a look see and a tester if you are near a store, you won't be disappointed.

Any other makeup or skincare you can recommend from The Body Shop? Let me know in the comments.

Xx

August Favourites

I'm not sure I'm ready for September... I can't handle how quickly this year is passing me by. I keep telling everyone I'm going to start celebrating Christmas every 2 years instead because they are coming around far too quickly now a days.

But, before October is knocking on my door I better get on with the August favourites.

First up. The Sunsilk Longer and Stronger Shampoo and Conditioner.
I'm a girl that likes to change up her shampoo and conditioner all the time. When one lot is done I'm on the hunt for something else to try out. This one smells SO GOOD! kind of fruity, leaves hair smelling amazing for days. I find it doesn't weigh down my hair, it gets rid of the frizz and leaves it feeling silky smooth.

Next is the St Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Facial Scrub.
With Salicylic acid to help keep those blemishes at bay and the green tea extract helping dull any redness, this scrub is a real beauty! With super fine sand like particles in it, it gives a great deep down clean feeling and also smells really good.

The Mario Badescu A.H.A Botanical Body Soap is Ah. May. Zing! I had never tried anything from the Mario Badescu range before but was reading a Women's Fitness magazine and seen an article for products that clear up various skin conditions. I have what they call "Keratosis Pilaris" Otherwise known as those annoying red bumpy bits on the tops of the arms...
This soap plus a loofa = a lot less redness. A lot of the bumps gone and much smoother skin! For those who aren't too sure what A.H.A stands for. They are Alpha Hydroxy Acids. They help exfoliate and cleanse the skin. Just remember when using skincare with A.H.A's extra sun care is important! Use that sunscreen yo!

Off to some makeups...

The Chi Chi Glamourous Eyeshadow Palette in NUDE. A Suggested dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette, I would say it is a pretty close interpretation for almost a quarter of the price. I really enjoy this palette. Most shadows are shimmer with a few matte shades thrown in for good measure. The picture speaks for itself really.

Bonne Bell Therapy Lip Treatment. My holy grail lip gloss. I will forever and always re purchase this. It's a nice gel like consistency. Not sticky. It's SPF 30+ BONUS! Just an all round great lip product. When some girls are all about Blistex pots. I had these. Also super nice to put over the top of your lippies!

Face Of Australia HD High Definition Brow Kit. Nothing but love for this kit. I normally just use the darker powder but if I'm feeling extra fancy I will use the wax over top for extra staying power.

AAAAND lastly the Rimmel Wonder'Full Mascara with Argan Oil. A late entry into the mix but I already know it's going to get a lot more use from me. I'm not going to say a whole lot about it as I have already written a blog post on it. Check that out here.

And that ladies (and maybe some gentlemen) is the conclusion of tonights post! Hope you all enjoyed. Feel free to leave me a comment! Say hello :)

Xx